| Doubleday Field was home
to the annual Hall of Fame game every summer in which two major league
teams played. Having been to the game a couple of times, it was taken less
seriously than even a spring training game. If the stars showed up, they
will rarely play more than an inning. More likely was teams bringing up
players from single-A to fill out the roster. Unfortunately, MLB put a stop to the game after the 2008 season siting "scheduling difficulties" as the reason. Also, one minor league game
was played here annually from 1989 until 2010 on induction weekend, but that also came to an end when the nearby Oneonta franchise relocated. In fact, there was talk about
putting a minor league team here in '96, but that fell through. The park
does not have lights, so the possibility of this ever happening seems slim.
The covered grandstand behind home plate probably looks the same as it
did 50 years ago. There are no individual seats - just wooden benches with
backs. Down both lines are bleacher seats with no backs. The outfield also
contains bleachers about 10 rows deep from right field to center. In left
field is a small scoreboard and a 20 foot high fence, as the dimensions
are very small to that part of the park. There are no concession stands
inside the park - just vendors wandering around both inside and outside
the park. A nice park, that fits in well with the rest of Cooperstown.
|
